Page 8 of Knocked Up by Mr. Grump Lawyer

KAYLA

ThisMondaymorningwasdifferent for me. I was floating on cloud nine. And because I was ecstatic about my first major achievement as a lawyer, I made sure I looked extra awesome today.

I curled my hair and did a half-up loose, casual hairstyle. My auburn curls contrasted well with my emerald green top and black elephant pants. I’ve never felt as beautiful, confident, and elated.

As soon as I stood again in front of the glass-covered building, I grinned. It felt like my second home. I couldn’t believe it had been five months already. Everything went by like a blur.

In the elevator, there were staff members who congratulated me. I gave them all a huge smile and thanked them for their support and contribution.

A sudden ping from my phone distracted me as I stepped out on the top floor. It was my client Maya Liberty, expressing her gratitude and appreciation for all that I’ve done for her. It felt amazing knowing that I played a major role in resolving her problem and improving her life.

I was smiling down at the message on my phone, oblivious to what awaited me in the office.

When I looked up, the reception area was filled with people, with my Dad in the center holding a cake with the wordsCongratulations, Atty. Kayla Brown!

My eyes widened as I froze while everyone cheered and hooted.

“Oh, my gosh!” I exclaimed.

Suddenly, there was a flurry of activity. Someone brought out snacks and drinks for everyone to share. Sandy began to slice the cake and hand out pieces amid all the chatter. A lot of people came up to me to congratulate me on my first successful case. I was over the moon with joy and pride, and the way my father looked showed that he felt the same way.

It was just a simple way to celebrate. No frills. Yet it felt like the best day of my life.

“Kayla…” I heard a familiar voice say.

I turned toward the sound and found myself gazing into Robert’s enigmatic eyes. He looked amazing in a dark gray suit that matched his eyes. His hair had grown a bit longer and fell naturally in soft strands.

I did not say anything. We had stayed civil with one another all this time, but we always had great tension. Through the months, I managed just to stay away. Meanwhile, he too, seemed distracted all the time. However, there were moments when I would catch him glancing at me.

Now here he was, looking at me as if it was the first time he was seeing me. It was just too much of a happy moment for me to think of a negative remark from him.

I started to move away, but he stopped me by stepping in front of me. “I just wanted to say congratulations,” he said. His tone was quite sincere and free of any sarcasm.

“Thanks,” I murmured. Then I noticed that he’d extended his hand to shake mine. When I placed my hand in his, and he squeezed it gently, I felt a bout of electricity shooting up my arm. Goosebumps appeared at the back of my neck, and a shiver ran down my spine. I pulled back quickly in alarm, smiling widely to cover up the shock.

He looked a little bit taken aback. He seemed to want to say something, but he held back. “You did very well, Atty. Brown.” Then he walked away.

I was left wondering what that was all about. But not for long.

Jim moved in and began chatting about when our next group movie date was going to be. He’s become a really good friend to me, and I was always at ease around him because he has never made a move on me.

On the other hand, Drew, who was now approaching me, had made several attempts to ask me out or to get me alone. It wasn’t that I didn’t find him attractive, but there was just no spark, and I didn’t want to lead him on. Besides, I intended to stick to my plan — to focus on becoming one of the best lawyers in Hollywood. Romance can take a backseat for now.

Our little party dwindled down within an hour. Everybody went back to their tasks for the day. I myself had a whole lot on my to-do list.

I was so engrossed in what I was doing on the computer that I never even realized what the entire day had gone through. I’d taken a few breaks to eat, stretch, and go to the washroom. But I was on a roll, so I didn’t notice the day turning into the night even though I was sitting right beside a huge glass wall.

When I was finally done, I checked the time. It was seven in the evening. My eyes widened as I remembered I was supposed to meet my best friend, Raven. She’d wanted to go out for dinner to celebrate my accomplishment and hers.

Shit.I saw a missed call from her, so I hurriedly packed my stuff and left my workspace.

But then, the lights suddenly went out. It was pitch black, making me stop and inch slowly toward where I believed the exit was.

“Ouch,” I muttered as I bumped into the edge of a table. I adjusted my body and tried to keep on going.What perfect timing for a power outage!

I kept walking in high heels, carefully trying to grope on walls, tables, and chairs to find my way.

Suddenly, when I took another step forward, I accidentally tripped on something solid on the floor — probably a box or a bag. I let out a scream that echoed in the empty office as I fell to the ground. Luckily, I acted fast and used my hands before my face hit the tiles. Still, pain shot up on my knees and the side of my body. I might just have acquired some bruises.

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